Multiple-stand rolling mill



May 2, 1967 F. KOCKS ETAL MULTIPLE-STAND ROLLING MILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1963 Fig.7

3a 24 25 E- I 2.3 2 4c 3; l7 l3 3 3 4 6 7 6 /L/6C 8b\ INVENTORS Friedrich Kocks 8| y 2, 1967 F. KocKs ETAL MULTIPLE'STAND ROLLING MILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1963 Fig. 2

INVENTORS Friedrich Kocks 8 Kurt Rotert BY W 54nd United States Patent 3,316,746 MULTIPLE-STAND RQLLING MILL Friedrich Kocks and Kurt Rotter-t, both of Dusseldorf,

Germany, assignors to Kommanditgesellschaft Friedrich Kooks, Dusseldorf, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,797 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 13, 1963, K 49,466 9 Claims. (Cl. 72-238) This invention concerns a multiple-stand rolling mill such for example as a multiple-stand universal mill for rolling rods. The invention relates particularly to means for changing the roll stands so that selectively individual stands of rolls or all the stands of rolls of the mill together may be removed from the mill to be replaced by other stands of rolls.

For purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described as embodied in a multiple-stand rolling mill comprising stands of rolls having non-parallel axes and a plurality of driving mechanisms, one for each group of rolls in the mill having parallel axes. In such a mill each stand may have three rolls and the rolls of successive stands may be disposed in position turned about the mill axis 60 relatively to those of the preceding stand so that corresponding rolls of alternate stands have paral lel axes and a roll of each stand is driven by each driving mechanism. In such case there are three driving mechanisms equally spaced circumferentially of the roll stands. Such driving mechanism is disclosed in copending United States patent application Serial No. 327,991, filed December 4, 1963, and since the details of the driving mechanism do not constitute the present invention such mechanism is shown and described purely diagrammatically herein.

The rolls of each pass are mounted in an individual platelike stand and all of the stands of the mill may be assembled outside the mill in a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill. Each roll stand is separately removably mounted on the supporting structure. Thus selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill. The driving mechanisms are disconnectable from the rolls driven thereby and at least certain of the driving mechanisms when disconnected from the rolls driven thereby may be withdrawn bodily to an out-ofthe-way position permitting selectively removal from the mill of individual stands of rolls or of the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon.

Heretofore in mills of the type above referred to it has been customary to lift out and introduce each roll stand individually, the roll stands being mounted in the fixed base frame of the mill. In that case no provision has been made for removing and replacing all of the roll stands together.

It has also been proposed to assemble the roll stands outside the mill and introduce them together by a swivelling mechanism but in such case it is not possible to lift out a single roll stand.

In some installations it may be possible to lift out a plurality or all of the roll stands simultaneously but the requirements for cranes or other handling equipment are disproportionately large, especially in mills with large numbers of stands.

Our roll changing mechanism comprises a removable unitary supporting structure in the form of a boxlike base having mounting means for the roll stands and hooks or eyes or equivalent means for removing the unitary supporting structure by a crane or other handlmg equipment.

The roll stands, as above indicated, are mounted removably or loosely in the supporting structure so that they can be removed individually without requiring removal of the supporting structure. The rolls are properly positioned in the supporting structure for connection with the driving mechanism.

The supporting structure preferably has for each roll stand a pair of mounting frames with upwardly open mounting brackets and each roll stand preferably has mounting members seating in the mounting brackets. The mounting brackets are preferably of upwardly open forklike form and the mounting members on the roll stands are preferably laterally projecting pins at each side thereof which seat in the mounting brackets. A single mounting bracket may accommodate mounting members of roll stands on both sides of it.

One of the driving mechanisms is preferably disposed generally above the roll stands and is withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position and has resiliently mounted means which when the driving mechanism is in operative position with respect to the rolls driven thereby engage the roll stands pressing the same firmly against the supporting structure to maintain the roll stands in working position.

The supporting structure preferably has openings for the discharge therethrough of scale and cooling water and also preferably carries means for supplying coolant and lubricant to the roll stands.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view through a multiplestand universal mill for rolling rods taken perpendicular to the pass line; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the mill shown in FIGURE 1 with the upper gear box and associated mechanism omitted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, each roll stand is designated generally by reference numeral 1 and consists of a platelike mounting structure in which the rolls constituting a roll pass of the mill are journalled for rotation. The details of the rolls and the journalling thereof do not constitute the present invention and hence are not shown. Each roll stand comprises three rolls 2 arranged conventionally for a mill of the type in question as shown in FIGURE 1. As above mentioned the rolls of each successive stand are disposed in position turned about the mill axis 60 relatively to those of the preceding stand. Each roll 2 is driven through a coupling 3a or 3b or 3c as the case may be. The drive for all rolls having the same axial direction is. effected through a common gear box 4a or 412 or 40. The three gear boxes are equally spaced circumferentially of the mill. The gearing in each gear box is driven through a driving coupling, the driving couplings being designated 5a, 5b and 5c respectively. The gear boxes 4!) and 4c are fixedly mounted on inclined faces 6-7 of bases 8b and 8c set on the foundation 10 and having upstanding supporting ribs 9. The gear box 4a may be mounted on a track 12 through rolls 111 so that it may be withdrawn bodily to an out-of-the-way position to permit removal of the roll stands individually or together.

The supporting structure is mounted upon a base frame 19 set upon a pedestal 18 forming part of the foundation 10. The unitary supporting structure is of boxlike form and is designated generally by reference numeral 16. It comprises frames 15 each having upwardly open forklike mounting brackets 14. Each roll stand 1 has laterally projecting pins 13 seating in the upwardly open forklike mounting brackets 14 so that each stand may easily be lifted out individually. The frames 15 merge into transverse walls 20. The supporting structure 16 has openings 21 through its bottom. The base frame 19 has corresponding openings 22 so that scale and cooling water may pass downwardly through the openings 21 and 22.

The supporting structure 16 is provided with hooks 17 to permit it to be lifted out, as, for example, by an overhead crane. The supporting structure also carries pipes 26 for supplying coolant and lubricant to the roll stands.

The roll stands 1 also carry pins 23 disposed at the upper portions thereof. The pins 23 and 13 are disposed at equal intervals circumferentially of the mill. A resiliently journaled pin 25 carried by a mounting member 24 on the removable gear box 4a engages each pin 23 as shown in FIGURE 1 to press the roll stand firmly against the supporting structure 16 and maintain the rolls in working position.

FIGURE 2 shows the arrangement of the roll stands 1 in sequence and the alternate arrangement of the rolls by the positions of the couplings 3a, 3b and 3c and 3a, 3'12 and 3'0.

Thus each roll stand may be removed individually when desired and also all of the roll stands carried by the supporting structure 16 may be removed simultaneously.

While we have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill.

2. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising stands of rolls having non-parallel axes, a plurality of driving mechanisms, one for each group of rolls in the mill having parallel axes, a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure, the driving mechanisms being disconnectable from the rolls driven thereby, at least certain of the driving mechanisms when disconnected from the rolls driven thereby being withdrawable bodily to an outof-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill.

3. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure, the supporting structure having for each roll stand a pair of mounting frames with upwardly open mounting brackets and each roll stand having mounting members seating in the mounting brackets, and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill.

4. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising stands of rolls having non-parallel axes, a plurality of driving mechanisms, one for each group of rolls in the mill having parallel axes, a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure, the driving mechanisms being disconnectable from the rolls driven thereby, one of the driving mechanisms being disposed generally above the roll stands and being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position and having resiliently mounted means which when said driving mechanism is in operative position with respect to the rolls driven thereby engage the roll stands pressing the same firmly against the supporting structure to maintain the roll'stands in working position.

5. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill, the supporting structure having openings for the discharge therethrough of scale and cooling water.

6. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill, the supporting structure carrying means for supplying coolant and lubricant to the roll stands.

7. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure, the supporting structure having for each roll stand a pair of mounting frames with upwardly open forklike mounting brackets and each roll stand having at each side laterally projecting pins seating in the mounting brackets, and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-the-way position, whereby selectively individual stands of rolls or the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon may be removed from the mill.

8. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the length of the mill with the roll stands each separately removably mounted on the supporting structure, the supporting structure having means for connection therewith of crane slings or other suitable mechanism for bodily removing from the mill the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon, and driving means for driving the rolls of the respective stands disconnectable therefrom, at least certain of the driving means when disconnected being withdrawable bodily to an out-of-theway position to permit removal by the crane or other mechanism of the supporting structure with all the stands of rolls mounted thereon.

9. A multiple-stand rolling mill comprising a fixed base, a drive, individual roll stands each containing a set of rolls forming a roll pass connectable with the drive when in operating position, a removable unitary supporting structure extending throughout the entire length of the mill into and from which the individual roll stands can be inserted and removed when the removable unitary supporting structure is in operating position in the mill and also when the removable unitary supporting structure has been removed from operating position in the mill, References Cited by the Examiner the removable unitary supporting structure being mounted on the fixed base when in operating position in the mill, UNITED STATES PATENTS the removable unitary supporting structure being eX- 2120539 6/1938 Barth 72*238 changeable as a whole with a like removable unitary sup- 5 3,221,529 12/1965 Chang 72 237 porting structure containing individual roll stands diifer- 4 ing in whole or in part from the individual roll stands of CHARLES LANHAM P 1mm y Examine the original removable unitary supporting structure. L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE-STAND ROLLING MILL COMPRISING A REMOVABLE UNITARY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE MILL WITH THE ROLL STANDS EACH SEPARATELY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND DRIVING MEANS FOR DRIVING THE ROLLS OF THE RESPECTIVE STANDS DISCONNECTABLE THEREFROM, AT LEAST CERTAIN OF THE DRIVING MEANS WHEN DISCONNECTED BEING WITHDRAWABLE BODILY TO AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY POSITION, WHEREBY SELECTIVELY INDIVIDUAL STANDS OF ROLLS OR THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WITH ALL THE STANDS OF ROLLS MOUNTED THEREON MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MILL. 